The Gran Turismo array of racing video games has always been filled with distinctive quirks, while series producer Kazunori Yamauchi is famed for his eccentricities and elusiveness.
Sometimes, these features can be taken as unnecessary fripperies, taking away development time and resource from more pertinent challenges. Often, they simply aren’t used by most players who tend to be more interesting in the number of venues or vehicles on offer.
But they also add a sense of charm – something that is rarely found elsewhere in this genre. GT games are enigmatic. They distinguish themselves from contemporary rivals, eschewing the norm.
Over the last 25 years, the license tests, ranked online races and used car dealerships have been emphatic success stories. The home printer integration on the PlayStation 2, less so…
As we impatiently wait for Gran Turismo 7 on 4th March, hopefully, this weird and wonderful compendium helps explain why Gran Turismo is one of the most cherished racing games.
